Keratin fragments as a serological indicator in patients with a liver disease

INTRODUCTION: Determination of M30 antigen appears to be a sensitive method for evaluation of hepatocyte apoptosis. The aim of the present project was to implement this technique, compare M30 values in patients with a liver disease and healthy controls and to identify potential relationships between M30 values and other parameters. METHODS: M30 antigen was assessed in 25 patients with a liver disease and 30 healthy controls. These results were compared between patients with a liver disease and the controls and correlated to a range of clinical and laboratory values, including tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS), in patients with a liver disease. RESULTS: We found significant differences in M30 values between controls and patients with a liver disease. The only significant correlations were the correlation between M30 and ALT, highly significant correlation between M30 and AST and highly significant correlation between M30 and TPS. CONCLUSION: The M30 antigen is a sensitive indicator of liver damage. Considering the highly significant correlation with TPS, it can be assumed that in some liver diseases, TPS could serve as a clinically useful indicator of apoptosis.